First-of-the-year Budget Take from Our New CEO

As we welcome 2024, we know a rollercoaster of a year lies ahead – from elections to economic challenges to this year’s legislative session – and we are grateful for all of our nonprofit colleagues, allies, and co-conspirators who work so passionately on behalf of our communities and the causes we are committed to.

Let’s start with the state budget…

n a typical year, public expenditures across the United States outpace charitable expenditures 20 to one. We know that it is not enough to counter the effects of poor public policy decisions after the fact. Our best leverage is to use that one dollar to influence how the other 20 are spent. CalNonprofits’ focus on policy advocacy helps to ensure that all levels of our government take action to help, not harm, the nonprofit community on which they increasingly rely.

As we begin the new year, all eyes are on the state budget. California is expecting the worst budget cycle in a decade. The Governor’s proposal – unveiled in his 2024-25 budget proposal on January 10th – is more optimistic than that of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, but some of the Governor’s proposed spending cuts and delays would pose significant challenges to progress on accessible childcare, climate resilience, and affordable housing, just to name a few. This is just the beginning of the process, of course, and nonprofit leaders across the state are dissecting the proposal and the implications for our communities and nonprofit sector. It is never too early to engage with our elected representatives on budget issues!

If you are newer to California’s budget process, here are a few key resources:

• Summary of the Governor’s budget proposal
• Assessment from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office 
• A good high-level analysis from the nonprofit California Budget & Policy Center

In addition to budgetary issues, our policy agenda for 2024 is focused on ensuring the implementation of our biggest win of 2023 – AB 590 by Assemblymember Gregg Hart, which allows for state grants to be partially paid up front. In addition, we will continue working in coalition to modernize the State’s contracting and payment system, on getting the full cost of our work covered when we accept government contracts, and making further progress on philanthropic reform.

As our membership continues to grow (thank-you, members!), we are seeking new opportunities for engagement across the state. As we build our educational programs, please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can be of service.

And as always, we will be ready to provide a voice for the nonprofit community wherever and whenever it is needed – always in service of justice, fairness, and integrity.

Thank you for making our work possible and being part of this vibrant nonprofit community. I’m very excited about the work ahead.